Gary L. McCannon

Gary L. McCannon, 79, of Andalusia, loving husband and dad passed away on Sunday, May 16, 2021 at UnityPoint Health-Trinity, Rock Island. Visitation will be Thursday, May 20, 2021 from 4 to 7 pm at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Milan. Services will be Friday, May 21, 2021 at 11 am at the funeral home. Contributions to the family may be made to a memorial fund that will be established at a later date. 

Gary was born on January 17, 1942 in Moline, IL the son of Francis and Ethel (Tompkins) McCannon. He served in the U.S. Army, honorably discharged in 1969. He married Glenda Wheatley on September 23, 1966 in Rock Island and would have celebrated 55 years of marriage this year. He was a hard-working and talented union bricklayer, working for Bob White and Dick Work & Son, retiring in 2004.

Gary, affectionately known as Hoot, will be remembered for his quick wit and good nature. Saying he was an outdoorsmen would be an understatement. He loved the Mississippi River and was a commercial fisherman for many years. He also enjoyed pole line fishing with his family (especially his grandchildren) and friends.  Gary’s knowledge and respect for the river was a major part of his legacy to all who knew him. His fish fries were legendary. He enjoyed hunting, especially bow hunting for deer and turkey. His garden was admired and pilfered by many. Gary’s tomatoes were perfection on earth. If you had one, you know – they were the best. Gary’s craftsmanship is evident in the family home he lovingly built with the help of friends. From the brickwork throughout to the carefully curated stone fireplace and hearth, his attention to detail and work ethic has endured. The welcome mat is still always out. The family home is surrounded by trees most of which Gary carried home in his lunchbox and nurtured as seedlings. These now towering trees provide a home and shelter for Gary’s many woodland friends. Daily visits with his bird, squirrel and raccoon pals brought him much joy. The generations of geese that return are offspring of an orphaned flock he raised from eggs.

His absence will be forever felt by his loved ones and friends. But the imprint he made on the world and our hearts will always be with us.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Glenda; daughters, Tabitha (Keith) Klundt, West Des Moines, IA, Tiffaney McCannon (Dan Witz), Brooklyn, NY, Tennesha Duyvejonck, Davenport, IA and Tedra (Corey) Greer, Eldridge, IA; grandchildren, Zachery (Brittni) and Matthew (Hannah) Klundt, Tristan, Tate, Teaghan, Ty Duyvejonck, Adison Greer, Mac and Sally Witz; great grandchildren, Evelynn, Rosalee, Theodor and Auora; brothers Jim (Janice), Art (Nancy), Russ (Sue); and several nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Dale.

Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gary L. McCannon, please visit our floral store.